College ROI

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Johnson & Wales University-Online

Providence, RI 1,980 Undergrads 37.5% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$25,365
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$21,611
After Aid
Median Earnings
$43,418
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$21,611
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$43,418
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate37.5%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients39.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time25.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS60.8%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
54.3%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$383k
-$13k
-$101k
Median Cost$22k/yr
+$306k
-$91k
-$179k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$292k
-$104k
-$192k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$22k/yr
Never
-230%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-211%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return-268%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-115%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Associate's Degrees

Culinary Arts and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1205
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,778
Lifetime Value Added
-$131k

Bachelor's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$26,229
Earnings (5yr)
$75,585
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$52,954
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Computer Software and Media Applications
BachCIP: 1108
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$48,127
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$57,459
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
BachCIP: 5207
Median Debt
$25,125
Earnings (5yr)
$45,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,940
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1905
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$41,943
Lifetime Value Added
-$184k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$25,768
Earnings (5yr)
$46,169
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
$26,250
Earnings (5yr)
$55,099
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$26,100
Earnings (5yr)
$55,595
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management
BachCIP: 3103
Median Debt
$26,100
Earnings (5yr)
$50,488
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$24,500
Earnings (5yr)
$71,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations
BachCIP: 5219
Median Debt
$26,982
Earnings (5yr)
$48,340
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$34,341
Earnings (5yr)
$71,892
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,369
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.